Jeremy Clarkson does u-turn on Jimmy Savile gag

There was somebody back then whose name was acceptable but isn’t any more

Jeremy Clarkson

Hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May, 49, made a light-hearted reference to the shamed DJ in a scene filmed before he was exposed as a child abuser.

Editors had to act fast to remove the comments about Savile, who died last year aged 84, before the DVD hit shops earlier this month.

Jeremy, 52, admitted the gag on the DVD, The Worst Car In The History Of The World, had been made as they discussed Savile’s favourite car. Jeremy told Radio 2’s Chris Evans yesterday: “We made a joke about a Rolls-Royce Corniche that had to be edited out. There was somebody back then whose name was acceptable but isn’t any more.”

DJ Chris, 46, said: “We get the idea, I don’t think you need to go any further.”

A BBC Worldwide spokesman said: “In light of recent events we removed a one-second reference to Jimmy Savile from the new Top Gear DVD, The Worst Car In The History Of The World.”

Jeremy also revealed that Top Gear’s Christmas special, filmed in Africa, was “still being edited” and may not be screened until February.